Traveling Switzerland: Is The Swiss Travel Pass Worthwhile?

The Swiss Travel Pass is an all-in-one ticket that gives you access to almost every means of public transport in Switzerland. It is designed for tourists and allows them to hop on and off trains, buses, and boats at their leisure for a set number of consecutive or flexible days. The pass also includes free admission to over 500 Swiss museums, free rides to certain mountain tops, and discounts on other mountain railway tickets.

The Swiss Travel Pass is almost always cheaper than buying point-to-point tickets, but the Swiss Half Fare Card can often be better value. The Half Fare Card gives you 50% off most trains, buses, boats, and mountain railways and cable cars, and it lasts a whole month.

Whether the Swiss Travel Pass is worth it for you depends on your itinerary. If you are planning on taking at least two of Switzerland's famous scenic train rides within a 3 or 4-day period, the pass can easily pay for itself. If you plan on doing fewer of the expensive trips and/or staying longer, the Half Fare Card is a better option.

The Swiss Travel Pass: pros and cons

The Swiss Travel Pass is an "all-in-one, worry-free ticket" that gives you access to almost every means of public transport in Switzerland. But is it worth it? Here are some pros and cons to help you decide.

Pros:

• It offers unlimited travel on buses, boats, and trains across the Swiss Travel System network, including local transportation in cities such as trams and funiculars.
• It includes free travel on panoramic trains like the Gotthard Panorama Express, Glacier Express, and Bernina Express.
• It provides free admission to over 500 Swiss museums and free rides to the mountain tops of Rigi, Stanserhorn, and Stoos, with discounts on other mountain railway tickets.
• It saves you the hassle of buying individual tickets for each journey.
• It includes free public transport in 75-90 towns/cities.
• It offers discounts on high-mountain lifts and trains.
• It covers postal buses, which go almost everywhere trains and lifts don't.
• It is ideal if you want to stay flexible and jump on and off trains whenever you feel like it.
• It is perfect for those who want to take scenic train rides and cable car rides without the hassle of booking individual tickets.

Cons:

• The Swiss Travel Pass is quite expensive, with prices ranging from CHF 389 for a 3-day pass to CHF 723 for a 15-day pass (as of 2023).
• It is only available for a set number of consecutive or flexible days, which can be inconvenient if you need a pass for a duration in between the available options.
• It offers a maximum of 15 days on the pass, compared to the Swiss Half-Fare Card, which is valid for one month.
• It only provides a 25% discount on the Jungfraujoch Railway, while the Half-Fare Card offers a 50% discount.
• You might end up paying for days that you don't fully utilise, such as short trips or days when you don't travel at all.
• It does not include seat reservations on panoramic trains, which are either mandatory or recommended and come at an additional cost.
• It does not cover private lake cruises.

How much does the Swiss Travel Pass cost?

The Swiss Travel Pass offers flexible and affordable transport. It gives you unlimited travel by train, bus and boat, as well as many other advantages. These include:

• Unlimited travel on premium panorama trains (seat reservation fees and/or surcharges apply)
• Unlimited use of public transport in more than 90 towns and cities
• Free admission to more than 500 museums
• Mountain excursions included: Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos
• Discount of up to 50% on other mountain excursions and leisure travel offers
• Children under 6 travel free, and those aged 6-15 travel free with a parent with a valid Swiss Travel Pass

Prices for the Swiss Travel Pass vary depending on the number of days and class of travel. Here is a breakdown of the prices for both adults and youths (aged 4-25):

3-Day Pass

• Adult: CHF389 (first class)
• Youth: CHF274 (first class)
• Adult: CHF244 (second class)
• Youth: CHF172 (second class)

4-Day Pass

• Adult: CHF469 (first class)
• Youth: CHF330 (first class)
• Adult: CHF295 (second class)
• Youth: CHF209 (second class)

6-Day Pass

• Adult: CHF602 (first class)
• Youth: CHF424 (first class)
• Adult: CHF379 (second class)
• Youth: CHF268 (second class)

8-Day Pass

• Adult: CHF655 (first class)
• Youth: CHF469 (first class)
• Adult: CHF419 (second class)
• Youth: CHF297 (second class)

15-Day Pass

• Adult: CHF723 (first class)
• Youth: CHF512 (first class)
• Adult: CHF459 (second class)
• Youth: CHF328 (second class)

There is also the option of the Swiss Travel Pass Flex, which allows you to choose 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 freely selectable days within a month. This option is slightly more expensive.

Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?

The Swiss Travel Pass is an all-in-one ticket that gives you access to almost every means of public transport in Switzerland. This includes trains, buses, boats, and local transportation in cities, such as trams and funiculars. The pass also includes free admission to over 500 Swiss museums and free rides to the mountain tops of Rigi, Stanserhorn, and Stoos, as well as discounts on other mountain railway tickets.

The Swiss Travel Pass comes in a few different versions. You can buy it for 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 consecutive or flexible days. If you're under 26, you get a 30% discount.

The Swiss Travel Pass is a great option if:

• Your itinerary includes the Glacier Express and another one or two panoramic trains.
• You're planning on using public transportation to get between cities every couple of days.
• You want to stay flexible and be able to jump on trains whenever you feel like it.
• You're visiting multiple cities but don't plan on using many mountain railways or cable cars.
• You're happy to keep your mountain excursions to Rigi and Stanserhorn (the two that are free with the pass).
• You're booking your trip last minute, within a few days of travel.
• You're doing the Grand Train Tour (all five panoramic trains).

The Swiss Travel Pass may not be worth it if:

• You know your itinerary two or three months in advance and can pre-book tickets without needing them to be refundable.
• You're in Switzerland for three days or less.
• You're just visiting one or two cities or sticking to a specific region.
• You plan on taking three or more mountain railways and cable cars (the Swiss Half Fare Card will probably be better).
• You want to go to Jungfraujoch (Jungfrau's regional travel pass offers the best deal).

The Swiss Travel Pass is almost always cheaper than buying point-to-point tickets, but the Swiss Half Fare Card can often be even better value. The Half Fare Card gives you half-price fares across the Swiss Travel System network, including trains, buses, and boats, for up to 30 days. It's only 120 CHF and is a great option if you want to do multiple mountain excursions that aren't free with the Swiss Travel Pass.

Ultimately, whether the Swiss Travel Pass is worth it depends on your itinerary and travel preferences.

Discounts and deals

The Swiss Travel Pass offers a range of discounts and deals to travellers in Switzerland. Here is a detailed breakdown of what the pass includes:

• Unlimited travel on buses, boats and trains across the Swiss Travel System network. This includes local transportation in cities, such as trams, local buses and funiculars.
• Free travel on panoramic trains like the Gotthard Panorama Express, Glacier Express and Bernina Express.
• A couple of free mountain excursions, including Stanserhorn and Rigi.
• 50% off most other mountain railway and cable car tickets, including Jungfraujoch (25% discount), Gornergratbahn, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Titlis and Pilatus.
• Free public transport in 90 cities.
• Free entry to more than 500 museums.

The Swiss Travel Pass also offers a flex option, which allows travellers to choose the days they want to travel within one month. This is ideal for longer trips or if you will have days when you won't be using transport enough to make it worth using a 'travel day'.

In addition, there are discounts for youths (30% off) and children. Kids under 6 travel free of charge, and children between 6 and 16 can travel for free when accompanied by a parent.

The Swiss Half Fare Card is another option, which offers 50% off all trains, buses and boats in Switzerland for up to 30 days, as well as 50% off public transportation in 75 cities and towns. This card costs 120 CHF for adults.

Swiss Travel Pass alternatives

The Swiss Travel Pass is a great option for those looking to explore Switzerland by train, bus, boat, or cable car. However, it may not be the most cost-effective option for everyone. Here are some alternatives to consider:

• Swiss Half Fare Card + Pay as You Go: The Swiss Half Fare Card is a popular option among locals, offering a 50% discount on all public transportation tickets for a year. Tourists can purchase a 30-day version of this card for 120 CHF, which can be very useful when travelling to places like Jungfraujoch. This option provides flexibility as you can buy regular tickets as you go through the SBB app, ticket machines, or the SBB website.
• Saver Day Pass: This pass offers unlimited travel across Switzerland, including the five most popular scenic trains, at a lower price than the Swiss Travel Pass if you book early. The Saver Day Pass is non-refundable, non-transferable, and valid only on the day of purchase. It is important to note that not all mountain railways accept this ticket, so combining it with the Swiss Half Fare Card can be beneficial.
• Friends Day Pass: This pass is an excellent value for backpackers, offering up to four young people the ability to travel together for a day at a low price of 80 CHF in 2nd class and 120 CHF in 1st class.
• Supersaver Ticket: The Supersaver Ticket offers dynamic pricing, meaning the earlier you buy, the cheaper it is. It can save you up to 70% if purchased six months in advance, but it is non-refundable and tied to a specific train journey.
• Renting a Car: For those travelling with a group of friends or family, renting a car may be a more cost-effective option than purchasing train tickets for everyone. This option provides flexibility and is worth considering if you prefer to drive and be more mobile during your trip.

When deciding between these alternatives and the Swiss Travel Pass, it is essential to consider your travel plans, budget, and preferences for convenience. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, so choosing the one that best suits your needs is key to having a memorable trip to Switzerland.

Frequently asked questions